Violet Mary Coenen

[avm228]

Picking up on the "musician" parental occupation on Violet's school record, I see that there were London-based Coenens of Dutch origin who seem to have had a strong tradition of musicianship.

The earliest seen in England seems to have been William/Willem/Wilhelmus Coenen b abt 1838 Rotterdam, died 1919 Switzerland - wife Emily Alice.  He was a Professor of Music in 1881, resident in St Pancras.  Newspaper reports show him as a professor at the Guildhall and mentioned as performer and composer in various contexts.

Later musical Coenens appear in Hammersmith - not sure whether they were his direct offspring or part of a wider musical Coenen clan.

[Rudolf H B]

Hi avm,

The Alex W Coenen, mentioned in Reply #4, has been a musician.

He could have been father of  Violet and Nellie, and stepfather of Violet 2 (+ 1921).

Naturalization 15 Dec. 1930
Alexander W Coenen, Netherlands, musician,
Doris Villa, Honiton Road, Southend-on-Sea
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33677/page/139

Death: Sep qtr. 1963, 69 years - Southend

Regards
Rudolf

[avm228]

It will be fascinating to see what Nellie's birth certificate reveals about paternity.

About Alex - one thought I have is that if the 1918 and 1920 Coenen/Nowell births are siblings of Nellie (and, by extension on current hypothesis, of Violet) then one would expect the Coenen/Nowell couple still to be together in late 1919 for the conception of the youngest son, Robert Frank Walter Coenen born 16 July 1920 (according to his 1986 death registration in Kent).

Alex as we know married Celeste Baga/Palle in Sep qtr 1919.

Alex (7 b Holland) was one of the children of a musician, Dutch-born William Coenen born c1867, seen in Hammersmith in 1901: RG13/49/149/63.

Another Dutch-born musician, Cornelius Johanis (or Cornelus Johannes) Coenen, c1872-1943, seems also to have lived with his family in Hammersmith in the early 20th century.

[Rudolf H B]

Death of Cornelis J Coenen, 20 years,
Mar qtr 1916.

My hypothesis:
Violet and Nellie might be siblings (given in the foster home, after the Lear marriage),
the later born might be half siblings - they got the Coenen name from their Nowell born mother ...

Rudolf

Oxford again:
COENEN R
67, Argyle Street, Oxford,
TYRE DISTRIBUTOR
Oxford Tyre and Battery Service ...
(Gazette: 1970 .. 1972)

[Chris Brice]

This is Chris who started the quest for info re my mother violet Mary Coenen (maiden name) I am particularly interested in her early life - see my original quest. On her marriage certificate her father's name is given as Joseph David Coenen (deceased)

[heywood]

Hello Chris,
As you can see we have tried to help you with her earlier life by searching for clues.
Now you have given us another one.
Is anything we found of help to you?

Regards
Heywood

[Rudolf H B]

Had your mother celebrated birthday

 May 9th ?

Rudolf

[heywood]

Rudolf,
It is a pity that Chris only stayed online for a few minutes and hasn't acknowledged the information re Violet and possible sister etc.  it's a bit disheartening.
Let's hope he has read the help.

Heywood

[Chris Brice]

thanks to everyone who has helped so far - sorry to dip in and out but I am only just learning how to use the system and couldn't find how to log in earlier. See Violet's Dad's name above - Joseph David Coenen - which doesn't register with any of the possible parental names mentioned so far.  But she was quite clear she was brought up in a foster home in or near the city of Cambridge since she clearly mentioned and pointed out a cake shop there once when we visited that she knew- she may have said one of about children